I try to plan our trips to maximize park time and minimize time spent in lines.
Sometimes you can’t always be at Disney when you’d really like to and have to visit during a crowded time of year. So how do you make the most of the time in the park and try to feel like you’re not part of the huge masses of people roaming aimlessly from one line to the next? There are many different suggestions for this and I’ve got a few that we’ve used in the past. Now, I will always advocate that you get up early, make an ADR for prior to park opening or be there for rope drop to get the most done before the crowds descend upon the park. Sometimes it’s not possible, like if you’re arriving later in the day and just can’t wait until the next morning to get to the parks or you got a late start for the day. I know these things happen and hopefully these tips will help you still make the best of your time at the parks and make you feel like the park’s not filled with quite so many people. Assuming you’ve started your day at rope drop, once the crowds start to pick up around mid – morning or lunch time and you’re not going back to your room for a rest or off to another fun adventure, it’s time to look for something fun for you to kind of escape from the crowds without leaving the park.
There are several things in the Magic Kingdom that you can do to kind of “get away” from everyone else for a break. (These tips are also good to refer to if it’s a hot day or rainy weather looks like it might be part of your day.) If you’re looking for something to ride, I would suggest the Liberty Belle. It will hold a good number of people but you should still be able to find a quiet spot on the boat while you ride and look at all the people you’re not around. Another good, quick loading ride is the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover. Your group can sit in your car and zip over the crowds at Magic Kingdom and enjoy your little peace and quiet.
This is one of the best ways to avoid crowds and still be able to enjoy the park in my opinion.
Another favorite thing of mine to do it just sit on a bench or at a table and people watch while having a snack or drink and just resting. The bench or table’s small enough that you’re not going to have to share with anyone so it’s kind of like hanging out by yourself while you’re sitting there. Great people watching spots are in the hub in front of the castle or the entrance to the Magic Kingdom.
Over at the Animal Kingdom sometimes it’s much harder to feel like you’re not with the crowd due to the design of the park. Recently my family discovered Rafiki’s Planet Watch. The short train ride back entertained the kids. Be warned, this is kind of a “behind the scenes” look at the Animal Kingdom and it can kind of spoil the magic to see the homes for the animals when they’re not out interacting with guests.
Take the train away from the crowds!
There are several fun activities back in Rafaki’s little section of the park along with characters to meet, a petting area and the animal hospital. Because you have to come back on the train, this really limits the number of the people who can come back at a time which is nice. If you’ve got kids, another great spot to check out is the Boneyard. The kids can play around while mom and dad can rest and make plans for the rest of the day.
The only real area of Hollywood Studios that feels crowded is usually over by Toy Story Mania due to the popularity of the attraction. There are many really great benches in DHS to just sit and people watch. Another good escape is the Beauty and the Beast show. I usually pick a seat near the back (everyone crowds towards the front so it’s emptier in the back), grab some popcorn to share with the kids and watch the show. The Animation Studio is another great area that isn’t usually too crowded. You don’t need to see the show to enter the area where the characters are at but the show’s cute. I love sitting and watching the kids visit Sorcerer Mickey, Lotso and the Incredibles. Some of the reactions are priceless.
Animation Studiots is a great place to escape from some of the crowds.
EPCOT can hold many more people due to the size of the park and the way it’s laid out. One of my kid’s favorite spots to either get away from the crowds or get out of the elements is the Innovations building. They love The Great Piggy Bank Race and the wall of video games. There are many different attractions in the building for them and lots of areas to rest if you just need to sit. This is one of our favorite spots to sit and enjoy lunch or a snack too.
This activity is one of my boy's favorite things to do and is hardly ever crowded when we've been.
Another little area to escape to is the Friendship boats. They can fill up since their purpose is to shuttle people to different areas around the World Showcase but if you can get a seat in the back of the boat in the open air and just ride for several trips around, it can be a nice break.
Lynn Wiltse is the mom of two boys and is always planning a Disney trip. Find her on Facebook or Twitter.
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